My parents are obsessed with 3 things:
They call each other to the kitchen window, like it’s a real-life santa claus siting. Every single day. It’s “would you look at that?!” Binoculars in hand. Amazed. Bewildered. In the winter? It is a vendetta against the squirrels who squander the birdseed. In the spring? It is a race to see the first robin. And in the summer? Particularly THIS summer? It is a non-stop “awwwww” fest over 3 wild kittens. I’ll give it to them. These kittens? Are adorable AF. So adorable? That just yesterday, my tough-as-nails dad hung a ball from a string, on one of the pine trees. “Batting practice,” he said. But what amazes me about these cats, is their skill at surviving….and thriving…on nothing but their own scrappiness. I can just envision Darwin high-five-ing these cats. Survival of the fittest, baby. “You’re nailing it!” The funny thing about humans (our ego gets in the way!) Every species on the planet reaches for it’s fullest potential. And yet humans? Only sometimes do. Sometimes? We’re all Steve Jobs. And we blow everyone’s mind. But sometimes? We shrink back into the shadows. “I’m fine. No really. You go ahead.” We’ve all been given MASSIVE gifts to share with the world. And yet only some of us cultivate them. Why? Because it is SCARY to put yourself out there. Fear of rejection And for some? It is scary to leave that comfortable, familiar, safe rock….in order to leap to the next one (which COULD be covered in moss, or bird shit, or….mossy bird-shit). Many people worm their way into the least threatening crevice of life. Then defend their territory to the death. Change is the enemy. The other side of the coin? Those who change partners, homes, and careers almost as often as they change their toilet paper roll. Just the other day, I bought a new couch, and the salesman laughed when I asked about ware and tear. “Just replace it in a few years. Who cares.” I should note that said salesman also tried to peak my interest in a throw pillow that he’d “gladly deliver to my apartment….personally” (gag). So….likely not the best salesman to begin with. Nonetheless. It is the Tinder effect. The….. “don’t worry, if this doesn’t work out, I’ve got 3 other options lined up.” BUT! What’s fascinating, is this over-willingness to jump ship? It is JUST as much a reflection of a FEAR OF REJECTION, as is cowering AWAY from change. For many, this throw-away mentality is simply a way of avoiding discomfort. At the first sign of an injured ego, they bail. “Can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread man!” The greatest breach of your own human contract (gasp!) But what many of us are missing the mark on (whether you’re a trench digger, or a fence hopper), is that NOT sharing your gifts with the world? NOT leaning into your own unique potential? Not seeking your BEST life? Is the GREATEST breach of your own human contract. It’s like saying F-U to the universe. And it is a massive disservice to you and the people around you. Pablo Picasso once said, “the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” And for those who are unwilling to reach for their fullest potential? I say…. The world needs what you’ve got! Choose to be your true self. Everywhere you go. And stop trying to CONVINCE other people that you have value. Believe that you have value. And then let those who see it, bask in it. The world is filled with people who, no matter what the hell you do, will not like you. Just as there are people in the world who will love you savagely. And it is those people who love you savagely (and have yet to love you savagely) who are relying on you to do your thang. We are told that to chase money, to chase success…..it is greedy. And there are many Audi driving assholes who give the “high life” a bad wrap. A new perspective on raking in the dough But what if wealth and abundance were simply a reflection of your willingness to go after your gifts? What if money was simply a return on the investment you made on yourself? What if affluence was simply a measure of the value you were willing to share with the world? What if your bank account was was simply a reflection of how much you love yourself? Like ferrel cats, we have it in us to stalk our best lives. And yet, so many of us choose to play small. Because we’d rather avoid pain. But rather than thinking about the cost of chasing that crazy dream of yours…..think about the cost of NOT chasing that crazy dream. The lives you will NOT impact. The change you will NOT affect. The inspiration you will NOT create. How grateful are we to JK Rowling, Michael Jordan, Beyonce, Jerry Seinfeld….that they chose to live a life true to themselves, and their own talents….DESPITE criticism? They are some of the richest people in the world. And some of the most impactful. Dare to envision a rich life “Ya, but I'm me. I'm nothing special.” Pfffffft. I call bullshit. You’ve got a crazy concoction of you-ness that no one else has. And NOT digging into that? Is the equivalent of avoiding an overseas flight to the destination of your dreams…..simply because, well, you get really uncomfortable with turbulence, you never seem to be able to fall asleep sitting up, and you hate when someone else steals your armrest. You can choose to focus on the pain, and avoid doing the AMAZING thing. Or you can suck it up, and trust that the shitty part won’t last forever (and actually….probably isn’t THAT shitty). DO YOU. And like…..REALLY…..do you. Then dare to envision a RICH life. Because if you are willing to cultivate your own potential (despite the discomfort), you will see the payoff.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
August 2020
Categories
All
|